Ethiopia and Sahara regions see success in desertification reversal

Efforts to combat desertification in Africa are showing success through unconventional methods. In northern Ethiopia, the creation of hundreds of kilometers of ditches and canals has enabled the restoration of 23,000 hectares of land that was previously considered irremediable due to overgrazing, deforestation, and climate change.

In the Sahara region, the release of 500 African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata) in 2021 has contributed to land greening. By digging deep underground burrows to escape extreme temperature fluctuations, these tortoises break the hardened soil crust. This natural excavation allows rainwater to infiltrate the ground more effectively rather than evaporating, helping the soil retain moisture and supporting ecological recovery.